FSE

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Serena took her opportunity, she knew for sure that her lizard scales wouldn't protect her from his blade, but her claws were made to tear, just like his scythes, she didn't exactly speak what she was going to do, but figured that he would block such a blatant swipe at his person. of course, it was no where near the most forceful swipe she could do, but it was for a test, after all, and reflexes, if he did attempt to block it, would situate it that her claws ended up against the sharp blade. Give a little, then hold. If he didn't attempt to block, she had enough sense to stop it mid swing so that it wouldn't actually hurt him.

Striker was sitting down, so he wasn't expecting it at all, so he reacted the way he normally would have. He didn't turn raise his blade to block in the way he would another Scyther, but instead turned his blade sideways in front of his body, and when the swipe connected, he sort of fell backwards due to not really being able to balance as well. "Just because I'm strong doesn't mean I'm as agile as I used to be... though that doesn't stop me from being twenty-something years ahead of you, Serena." He said, hoping that his wings were alright. He hadn't FELT anything wrong with them, but it made sense to check. "My... wings are alright, aren't they?"

"Yet you did close to what I expected of you." She was examining her claws when he asked about his wings. "If you're in the mindset that your wings are going to break from a small impact against a floor, I don't see how you're not a sitting Ducklett, so to speak. Your wings are fine...and thank you." She put the claws to her mouth where the new grooves were from his blade, and just bit them off, leaving them blunted on that limb, for the time being.

"I don't know what you expected me to do, but was now really the time to expect me to do it? Whaagh, that's a bit of a thing to say." Striker said, fluttering his wings just to be sure.

Serena smiled at him. "No time like the present to test your blades against an elder's. It shows how far I have to go, and against one of your kin, who could easily tear into my hide as if it were a blade of grass...it is a good thing to know that I can show my respect...besides that...we'll be on the road tomorrow..." she picked up her cards and looked at them, then leaned back with her eyes closed. "And Kyn has requested to meet Royce...which I'll be doing after a couple hands here...and then I have to go see Anana to return my favor, and to end my contract...I do trust that you enjoyed my work, from where you were sitting?"

"I am not sure what you mean. As far as that is concerned... it is the first time I have seen something like that." Striker said.

Kyn picked up his cards as well, studying his crappy hand. "Left of the dealer goes first in this particular case. Though since Lacu hasn't joined yet, it's just you and I. Alright Striker, so there are 52 cards in a deck... .... ... and for this particular game we each get five cards."

Serena gave him a fangy grin, but said nothing as she let Kyn explain how the game was played to Striker, it was only afterward that she spoke again. "Probably will be the last too, I don't make a habit of such things...even on myself." For some reason, this was easier...perhaps because the lion was still sleeping, but she was distracting him, she knew, probably distracting everyone from giving their full attention to the game.

Kyn placed two down and picked two more from the deck. "Check, Serena" Kyn said.

"So you like formalities then Kyn, even when we're not playing for a bet...unless there's something you -want- me to bet?" In the end, the word 'check' slipped through her lips, betting...wasn't a good idea, but she did fan out her cards, verifying that she wanted to keep her hand from the start, then closed them again. "It's not exactly as much fun without betting, I'll admit...but it comes down to how well you can read the other people this way." She said, for Striker's benefit. "A little, I guess in a way, like a hunter's gaze...judge if they've really got poison in their fangs, or if they're just a Ditto."

"You just totally added another analogy to my head. Serena.... Royce would be all over us if we BOTH used our abilities. I fold by the way. Now, just for the heck of it, you are now the dealer, Serena." Kyn puddled his cards, and shifted them and the deck over to Serena.

"Royce is always keeping a close eye on me, Kyn, there's nothing I can do about that...unlike most of them I can SEE the way that a being reacts, they don't need a specific tell. It's like that I could tell that the first night Tensa was here, he was happy about something, I didn't know WHY, of course, I was in the bath..." She paused to think as she mixed the cards, then carefully reshuffled them thrice. "We should take these down when we meet him, play a couple hands between us...well, not these cards, but the others."

"There is another thing that is different here though.... back home, there are tables reserved specifically for high rollers, those that throw around hundreds of thousands up to millions, though I don't... exactly know if that's the case here since, this casino seems reluctant to part with its money, if you know what I mean." Kyn said, then waited to be dealt his hand.

Serena looked up at Lacu and Scyther. "Joining in or staying out?" She played with the cards, waiting for their answer, then dealed out accordingly. "And skip the formalities this time." She flicked open her cards, then closed them, and returned to what Kyn said. "They do, but they're easy targets and its never wise to sit at them...either you lose your money at the table or you lose it in the back alley."

"Then I guess I'll have to covertly win. I'm sure 10,000 Poké spread out over a while won't be TOO suspicious will it?" Kyn put down two cards and waited.

"Watching this round...." Lacu and Striker said.

"...and how long are you planning on staying in the bay? You have until sunrise, and then we're leaving." She too traded out two cards, then looked at her cards again. "Didn't you say you wanted to find a gift for Anana as well? You might not get to sleep at all until you get home."

"Serena, y'know that set of PokéBlock I gave you? Well I'm going to give her five pieces of the opposite. I don't want to be around her when she finds out that she can't have more for a while. Her sister's tantrums are legendary, but I don't think she's the type to have them. Let me know when the first details arrive. I'll be back in a about two weeks your time." He then pointed at Serena's cards. "Show 'em. Whatchu got?"

Serena looked at him, and chuckled. "I'm afraid to say...," She paused, flicking her cards out onto the table. "...that you've won this hand." She finished. "Truth though, you should have paid to see what I had last hand, and not this one."

"So then why don't you tell me? Or will I be utterly blown away?" Kyn handed the cards back to Serena.

"Because that's not the point of the game, you didn't pay to see them." She pointed at him, then shook her head. "Time to meet the guy that's going to want you and me both bent over his desk. I've got an hour of time left with you tonight...So we may as well make it a fun hour...Still want to take all of them with you down there?" She already knew the answer, and didn't seem to wait for the reply before speaking again. "Do you mind if I use some of your money to get us into /trouble?/ Vendetta will be giving us a 20 to 1 ratio when she learns that I want to see Royce. She absolutely adores pissing him off."

"I'm going to make it back one way other another so go on ahead. Though... I'm not sure if this is the method of which I am going to meet Royce... I wonder what all this next client is going to request... Serena.... the more of my Pokémon I have near me, the less chance I'll have to worry about. Plus if it even comes to that, you'll see one helluva spectacle." Kyn said.

Serena sniffed around him, until she found the pocket that he had been holding the poke in and removed the gold from it entirely, pouring MOST of what he had earned back into the bag that held his winnings, which was presumably still on the table. She did show him five golden coins that were left in her claws, to show him just exactly how much she was leaving out and taking with them. She also dumped out her bag onto the couch, not exactly in any order, and folded the cloth up so that it was small enough to be hidden under her scarf, which was exactly where she put it, and the coins...as well as where she kept her keycard.

"Until we get to the machine...yes, as in slot machine, I'm going to hide amid your illusory tail...you could say that Vendetta has been known to get me into trouble...the biggest problem will be...well, keeping the others around you without showing that they actually are with you...the obvious answer of course would be those infernal balls...and then taking out the guard at the door without killing them, leaving our own at the door...I've done that before, minus having our own guard at the door of course...Royce was especially pissed off at that point...still though." She realized now she was rambling again. "So...time to gather the missing members of the group I suppose..."

"Wait! Serena! I have a question regarding this currency, known as Poké. Is it made out of solid gold?" Kyn asked frantically.

Serena blinked at him. "Well...yeah...why?" She looked at him curiously. "It's soft, easily molded into the shapes we need, and relatively light...well, for us anyway..."

"Well, it's just that, humans place a high value on gold, silver, copper, and other materials, gold currently being the highest. Love it. Get money for shiny rocks. The purer the gold, as in not mixed with silver or iron or anything else, the higher the value. Just a few hundred of your coins could actually make me a decent amount of money back home, that I could then turn around an invest in fur and meat to bring back here, IN ADDITION to the hunting that will be done."

Being as he was still sitting on the ground, she walked over to him, looking him in the eye. "Kyn...look at me, and take a good look. Life is not better with excess money. If you have enough to live and to treat those around you with dignity, why do you seek more?" Of course the memory of Inferno speaking to her about why he'd given her the PokéBlock came to mind, but she shoved it away, thinking of the PokéBlock and that she was given some, and what he'd said to Anana as well...well, it wasn't the best combination of events.

"Serena...," Kyn began, facing her to not exactly 'confront' her, "It's not all for me. I can continue to live the lifestyle I currently live, while also being generous and helping others. My mother still works. If I build up enough, I could have her retiring 30, maybe even forty years sooner. All she's given to me, I can help get back. Not to mention donations to agencies like the Societies of Prevention of Cruelty to Pokémon. Most people don't even take them seriously."

She did feel the twang of guilt and envy that came with being reminded that he did have parents, and while she was sure that she did too, she would never exactly get to know them. Her nose twitched with this news. "You say it as if Pokémon in your world can not take care of themselves..." She didn't draw attention to the other things, she didn't want to admit them even to herself...but she had spent enough time in the past crying about her lack of Sire and Dame, she wouldn't waste any more on them. Of course, her mind was easy access now that she had given everything up to protect him.

"We're wasting time..." As she spoke she moved away from him, towards where she thought Heji would be from his scent trail. Well, he had said that he would like ALL of his Pokémon with him.

"Still. You're right. Though if you were to see the way some of my people lived, what I am doing will seem like..." He trailed off and couldn't finish his sentence. He stood up and put his cards in his pocket.

/Then show me./ The thought echoed around the room. /You have that ability now./ With the sun in the west, the room was quite dark, not something she was totally against...when she did reach her room, and found Heji, she tilted her head off to the side. "You look restless." Obvious enough of a statement, of course if the clicking of the claws against wood hadn't given her away it could possibly have taken him by surprise.

"Ooh, I don't know how you stand him sometimes Serena! That bloody ghost is so annoying at times!" Heji gave a low rumble. "Maybe it's just me, at this current point in time that he feels obligated to do this to. I told him to get out for fifteen minutes or I'd electrocute him." His fur was sparking, he was pacing around, roughly stomping the ground, as well as dragging his feet. His claws weren't out enough to really make an impact though.

"As if the sparks weren't enough of a clue Serena..." Kyn muttered.

She walked over to the sparking lion and put her hand on his flank...electricity...it didn't bother her too much so long as she maintained the current, essentially letting herself become an extension of his energy flow, she was smart enough to do that. "Practice...patience and understanding...among many other things...You heard at least some of what went on this morning...he's...I suppose you could say reacting to the way that I react around you. Probably still insisting that I'm going to abandon him...for...living friends."

"Serena... perhaps you could explain to Marlow, that just because we're all here, doesn't mean that we're going to stay forever. He'd more than likely be near you far more than we would. Besides, if he stays with us, then he'll be with you more since you'll likely be with US more. That should make sense."

"Then just to clear the air, so to speak, I shall return to my Ball for a while. Only coming out to eat, or if Kyn decides to utilize our convenient bodyguard feature." Heji said, heading over towards Kyn.

Serena let her hand drop as Kyn spoke. "I tried that already...I specifically invited him to come with us on the trip with Anana...he's trying to push me...specifically, towards Heji...because he believes that he would be a better provider for me than he could ever be..." She hesitated a bit, one might say her life had become a soap opera. "...he's been reading my mind again...I didn't TELL him that it was more than physical attraction." She hadn't paid attention to the fact that Heji hadn't gone back into his ball yet, her dulled clawtip in her mouth as she thought.../But he said he didn't care that I...oh you CAN'T be serious./ This part was only local frequency, but the thought that followed was essentially the same volume as a shout might have been. {MARLOW.} /Idiot, Idiot Serena, you're a bloody idiot, too much instinct, not enough specification./ it was her turn to pace.

Marlow, having been only fifteen minutes away, or so it would seem, heard Serena's voice, and figured it was time to come back since Heji had banished him. {Has Heji decided to calm down yet then?}

Kyn took notice of Serena beginning to pace around, and took into account what she had just told him.

Serena immediately turned to the source of the sound, even if she couldn't see him, he was in that direction, it gave her a better feeling to be facing someone when she spoke to them. {When did it happen?} always directly to the point, she rather ignored his question. "If you do not mind, it would probably be best for you to head down before me, Kyn...per usual, I shall be along shortly."

{Serena you're going to have to be more specific. What is this 'it' of which you so-called, speak?} Marlow still stayed out of the room, but still went nearby, since Serena hadn't answered his question.

"I guess I WILL show you some of those memories sometime then. So, you're not still against me utilizing this source of gold, are you?" Kyn said.

"....No....and My apologies, I should have explained HOW to give memories first...we'll speak more on it...well, whenever I find time I suppose." {Oh for fuck's sake Marlow...The others are going downstairs, when we finish this talk we'll be joining them. Come. Here.} Her eyes had closed. {You know very well what I mean. You try to push me away, then terrorize Heji when I leave you alone with him, the ONLY reason I can see that you would do something like that is because you feel threatened. When did you grow to love me, Marlow?}

"Onward, to victory?" Kyn said, waiting for Serena's next set of directions.

{Hm, I'm not exactly sure if it can be called love or not Serena. Perhaps our maintaining a link for so long caused something that normally shouldn't be possible for me. I don't know.} Marlow DID go down into the room where Serena was.

{Call it what you will, the result is the same. An attraction, admiration, addiction. You want me to be happy, yet the mere thought that that might be with someone else troubles you, you try to push me away...Marlow...I'm an idiot...and no, even ghosts can love....} "Go ahead and play some, Kyn, I'll come to you." She sighed, opening her eyes to look at Marlow, trying to think. She hated having to do a 180 on what she thought almost immediately after she had said the exact opposite.

{I meant it when I said that you were a part of me, Marlow, you already have one part of me to yourself, but to think that my being can't encompass...many aspects, many Pokémon...is absurd. Would this happen if I ever went off to one of the mating grounds because I wanted an egg? Would you try to scare everyone away from me then?}

"You make it sound like I'm gonna raid the poker tables, Serena." Kyn said with a chuckle.

{Probably not. Just, give me some time to get used to things Serena. I think I have a comparison. Consider it like when you first went to Kyn's world, and you saw ALL those beings that were twice, if not more than you in height.}

"No, if you were going to raid the Poker tables then we would require another trip back upstairs to deposit all the gold...it would be smarter to do the opposite and go in the hole a bit, make it look like you're getting desperate." {I...still don't like being among all of those Pokémon...I don't mind the height...but being surrounded isn't pleasant...what can I do to help you adapt, then?}

"Serena... I... was joking but... really? I don't think I like that idea... in the hole... for one thing, that seems like the reason that people DO meet Royce, and of course, that being for the wrong reason. Though winning too much is ALSO the wrong reason, as you're about to show me. So... is this... your best suggestion?" Kyn asked changing his tone.

{I do not know at this current point. Perhaps KYN can help you work something out.}

"You want to be shown as clever, you're not really going in the hole at all, you're just losing all of what you take down with you. This is another reason for the amount limit that I imposed on you taking down at a time." She paused at Marlow's words. "Actually, it seems like we wont need to divert from the original plan...the talk is done, so to speak..."

{My time is limited tonight Marlow...I will try...but...it might have t wait until after I've had my bath tonight. Please, come with us?}

"Let's see... losing almost everything, and then suddenly rapidly gaining it back? What would that look like then?" Kyn asked, now thinking of various scenarios.

{I will come with you.}

"Kyn, you're lingering on a plan that has no need to be put in action now." She mused, she was not Tensa, but at least she hoped that it would be enough to knock him out of his daydream, if not, she would repeat it in his mind.

{Thank you...} She stepped back through the doorway, her internal clock was running. Anana wouldn't be happy, but she was sure that she wasn't going to be anyway...If she walked in on the meeting with Royce, she didn't want to think about what could happen, she would have been on Anana's time, in an area with Royce...the mere idea made her shudder.

"Oh, that's right. Serena, how abouts would I go about giving Anana her PokéBlock this time around? Don't know if YOU would be the one to give it to her..."

Marlow situated himself on top of Serena's head again, and then disappeared.

She flinched a little at the implications of being around Anana and playing delivery girl for Kynexn..."There's Pidove post, at which point I could mail them to her...can we refrain from talking about the Kecleon that will insist upon me servicing her orally once I finish using my silver tongue to turn you into someone that Royce will admire? Yes, I did just pull the phrase from your mind." She looked at the others as she walked back past them. "Well, what are you waiting for? Delibird presents? Let's go."

"If I actually had a Sceptile's tongue, it would be fairly easy for me to do that, I think." Kyn said obviously referring to Serena's particular use of her mouth. "Well, if you're willing to take care of the mailing aspect, then I'll just get them after I come back." He made sure he had this keycard this time, so he wouldn't get scolded by Serena.

Heji took his Ball and then entered it, and then converted into light energy and then disappeared inside it. Striker took his Premier Ball and rolled it around, using his foot to push the button and then disappeared inside as well. Tensa and Lacu walked near Serena. "The recall system obviously doesn't work here so... I have to pick them up manually, which isn't that bad. I actually prefer it that way." Kyn said, putting them on his belt.

Serena wrinkled her nose, there was just something wrong about how something so big could become so small. Of course, with the recent contact with Heji gave that thought a double meaning, and she mentally chastised herself for it. "Right then, after we go down to the gambling area, as I mentioned prior, we'll be looking for a slot Machine that is, as you might have guessed, a high risk machine...Vendetta has had a history of letting me win on the machine...that would be why I need to be kept hidden, especially since Nina saw me around the poker tables." She resisted the urge to want to ask for Heji's ball, feeling that it would be overstepping her boundaries...and that Tensa would turn it into a bad pun. She didn't exactly leave them anyone behind, but she could guess what he meant about Tensa's tongue. They were both reptiles after all. "You wouldn't want to Kyn...she tastes worse than a trubbish smell."

"Well that's not very helpful Serena. I've never smelled a Trubbish or a Garbodor before. Hey, Serena, how exactly would I found out where my tail is in size, compared to Tensa's?" Kyn asked, taking with him some Poké as well, numbering in about 10 coins.

Serena, instead of giving him a verbal answer about the garbage Pokémon, took the opportunity to fill his mind with VIVID memories of both the smell of Trubbish, AND The taste of Anana. She expected that he would be running for the bathroom rather quite soon, considering. <Is THAT helpful enough for you Kyn?> There was a slight tone of amusement hidden amid all the disgust.

"AH, I see... that would be pretty foul. I doubt that you want to think about WHY that is the case, but yes, I can see now. No I don't think I'd want to taste her if she tasted like that." Kyn said, probably surprising Serena with his lack of the response that he gave. If she did ask, he would tell her WHY it wasn't as big of a shock to him, but for now he just waited for her response to his LACK of one.

She snorted again, at this rate he would begin to notice the difference between snorts of confusion, those that were indignant, and those that were clearing her nose of any scent that she no longer wished to smell. This one, was one of the foremost, but she didn't ask a question.

"......." She would be stating the obvious if she said that not all females reptiles tasted the same, but she felt like she should say it...she just wasn't quite sure why the desire to clarify was there. Eventually she settled for the silence as she slipped out the door, down the hall, and pressed the button for the elevator. Her tail twitched oddly...her life was complicated enough without asking that stupid question that lingered in the back of her mind, and she certainly wasn't going to dig for it without permission. Gaining a new phrase was one thing, looking into your own file in someone else's head was another.

"Alright... the here I go... ready to lose it then gain it! Royce, here I come!" Kyn said, while in the elevator. "I'm glad though, that this casino doesn't have as much security as some of the casino's I've been to."

Serena took the opportunity in the elevator to use one of the claw rails to climb up to the same height as his head, and mindfully used her dulled clawed limb to bap him upside the head, or at least attempt to. "I think you paid attention better WITH all the voices. The talk with Marlow cut our time shorter than it already was, and since YOU chose to use that time talking to me instead of going down and continuing with the idea, there's no time to establish that you're clever that way anymore. I'm probably going to have to cut it short even before Anana gets too upset with me anyway."

"Ah, I remember now. Anyway, what exactly AM I going to do then? Also, can't I just come back a month and restart?" Kyn said, now realizing that he HAD lost track of time.

"....I swear, sometimes I think I need a leash for you Kyn. You don't follow plans well at all when they aren't coming from your own head." Serena sighed, then he'd get a couple of memories from her, this time on what the machine they were looking for looked like, and of course, as they approached the Casino floor, Serena darted back between his legs to where she knew she was concealed by the illusion, ironic that she was almost literally in his footsteps. <I won't be able to talk now...but that image is your target Kyn, it should be relatively easy to spot, most people stay away from it because they believe it to be rigged...and it is.>

Kyn walked with his arms folded, slightly annoyed with the casino at this point, but he DID want to meet Royce... After a quick bit of searching, he found the machine in question. He did not pay attention to any others that may have been looking at him for approaching such a machine, because he was completely focused on it. Not even someone trying to stop him would.

Hiding in the shadows, that was something a rogue was good at, and when he was on the bench, she contacted Lacu. /Alright, can you situate the false tail to wrap around near Tensa's? It'll give me enough cover./ <10 seconds Kyn, then when I say it's Okay, you can put the coins in the slot...> She moved, careful to move onto all fours as she got close to the machine, she pulled out the bag and set it at Kyn's feet. <You'll need that...> She said, then put a blue claw to the bottom of the machine. ~Hey Vendetta~ You up for making Royce mad again? How about you reverse the rigging on this machine for a little payout, hm?~

A cheerful voice, not befitting the name Vendetta, answered. ~Heee, Serena! Making trouble again? Ooo, you've got a friend this time, hope he's good with carrying heavy things. Play a couple hands first, if you don't mind? Have to make it look good~ <Alright Kyn...put 3 coins in the slot and pull the lever, this one wont pay out...neither will the next...but the third one, when you put in 5 coins will.>

[Will do.] Lacu answered. |Tensa, Serena will be under your and Kyn's tails, be mindful.| Lacu informed Kyn of what he was doing and then Kyn shifted himself accordingly. After Serena deposited the bag, he quickly knelt down to pick the bag up, and then went back to looking at machine. He deposited the first three and then pulled the lever, waiting to see what appeared.

The characteristic pinging of a machine in action came to a slow stop as the first symbol showed itself, A seashell, followed shortly after by a flower, not unlike what Anana wore on her head, but the last one was clearly a Duskull skull, the typical kind.

<There's one...> She herself had to be mindful of Tensa's tail, with this positioning she could easily have slipped out from beneath the leaves. [Thank you for connecting to Tensa, now I can as well.] She added to Lacu, before her tongue flicked out against one of his leaves. |This is probably one of the more awkward maneuvers...the Siren will ring after the third pull of the lever...when they start to gather 'round, and by they I mean Royce, the Clefable, and the Machamp, you're going to conveniently move your tail to expose me, as you turn to face them, understand?|

"Damn.... well I guess I can't expected to win on the first time. That would be incredible." Kyn said talking to Serena, but obviously aware that it would look like he was talking to someone nearby. Tensa gave Serena his understanding, and waited for the proper time. Kyn put some more Poké in the machine and repeated his lever pull, remaining silent.

Serena managed not to snort. <Again, if you don't mind...and then afterward put five in.> There was very little to do but wait, with the five gold poke in her claws. Again the colorful wheels spun, and again they stopped, The first was a Footprint, the other two being king's rock shapes, and two poke dropped down into the slot positioned below the colorful wheel. <Incentive to keep playing, if you were a normal player.> she explained.

<Well that's interesting. Y'know, I've just... gotta stop thinking about the ones at home. Do I take these two to?> "Hm..." Kyn placed five more coins in the slot and pulled the lever. He watched the pictures roll, after spotting some of the stationary ones, he was able to equate some of the pictures to what he would have seen in his home.

<Mind your ears.> Came the warning as the wheel turned again, this time they all lined up, this time all three with the Red flower that Anana wore in her hair. Something clicked in the machine, and the spout that had been a holder for the two coins, turned into a spout that poured out the golden money, right into the bag that she had set up to be it's holder. Of course, a High risk machine like this, there was a pole with a red light that announced when someone won. 'WINNER WINNER' Vendetta's voice shouted with the dings of the machine, and soon the bag was overflowing with Poké, and quite heavy, then Serena moved forward, essentially to help hold the bag up, but with the positioning as she heard the running feet of the higher ups coming, that would look very, very suspicious.

<GOOD LORD, even MY ears are affected by that. What is this a fucking warning siren?> Kyn placed his hand under the bag, and with some quick sleight of hand, caused about twenty coins to fall to the floor, to add to the five that Serena had already. Then, he shifted his hand under the bag, to make it look like he was reaching to pick up the coins, but was actually holding the bag up.

<Similar.> She was interrupted by the 'Ahem' of the Slowking Royce, followed by a whisper to the Machamp and Clefable.

'I thought that I told you to leave this machine under an out of Order sign since the incident!'

'We had sir, but they claimed to have gotten this fixed, and so we removed the sign.' came the reply from the 'champ.

'Fine, fine...' he grumbled, stepping forward to Kyn's side to where he was looking at the Sceptile's eyes.

/Don't resist./ Came another warning.

'Congratulations on hitting the Jackpot, you know you're the first person to hit it since it was brought back on the floor.'

[Are you capable of speaking to the others while they're in their Poké Balls Lacu?]

'For this, we have a prize for you as well, if you'd be willing to come with me to retrieve it?'

"That's rather exciting... I get a prize just for... winning." Kyn said in a suitably excited voice. He didn't turn to face Royce but instead said to Tensa. "Tensa would you be wiilling to help me carry some of my winnings?"

[No. For some reason they block telepathic fields. It's rather odd though that I can lift them, but cannot communicate with the beings inside.]

At this, Tensa decided to reveal Serena. He did indeed bend over instead of kneeling down, which exposed Serena, once he turned around to face them.

It was plain to see Royce's eyes go wide, and Serena stuck out her tongue at him as he commanded that the Machamp 'seize the 'thief'.' who immediately complied, and Serena was picked up by her sides, her arms pinned at her sides, and of course, as a reflex, she dropped the gold that had been in her claws. She was defiant as ever, but her mind was cool and calm, despite the tight squeeze.

[Pity.] Her green eyes were locked on Royce, who was just barely keeping his composure, but she reassured Kyn with a mental flick. <You don't know me, for now, remember those words, you'll need to say them soon with conviction. You'll be able to keep your money, so long as you don't make a scene...sorry about that gold that I dropped, that will be 'confiscated' > She was carried with the others walking, as they followed Royce down from a hidden door, into a long hall that was guarded with fighting types, and THESE now drew her attention. At the end of the hall was his office, characteristically a black door amid the red walls. [If you would be so kind then, Lacu, to pull the other's balls off his belt for a moment, He and Tensa will be let inside, all of us, however, will be left outside with the fighting types...who we'll soon knock out. That shouldn't be too hard...and Royce will be expecting ME to join them once we test out his 'security.']

Despite his earlier excitement, he now became extremely stoic. He observed the surroundings change and thought loosely, 'How can anyone think they've won a prize after going through this place. Looks more like a Team Rocket hideout with all the quote unquote security. Either that or the beginnings of a torture chamber.'

Lacu via Serena's suggestion, covertly and quickly removed the Poké Balls containing Striker and Heji, and moved them closer to him. [What exactly have you done Serena...?] he asked, seeing as how he was thinking along the same lines as Kyn regarding the surroundings change.

[Given him a chance to double what he won out there, or lose it all in a fair game.] She answered, and once the door had clicked behind them, she thrust her sharpened tips of her headplates back into the Machamp's shoulders, making him drop her, followed by a kick to the side of his knee, which caved. "Typical..." she muttered, the last thing the Machamp would see was her fist, which of course, she pulled the force on so that it wouldn't crush his skull. Of course, to the sound of the Machamp hitting the floor, the others would come to see what had happened, and she hoped that Lacu had taken her actions to mean it was time to let the others out.

Having been paying attention, it was fairly obvious to the current residents inside of their Balls that something was going on outside. Heji let himself out first, followed by Striker. He wasn't really sure what was going on either, just that they were now (sort of)separated from Kyn. "Serena, what's going on?" Heji asked, noticing the Machamp on the floor.

"Guard the door, knock out anything that tries to get in, if it can't be reasoned with." She said simply. "Kyn is safe while inside...can I leave this to you?"

Inside, Royce had chosen to sit behind his desk. "Welcome...I promised you a prize, and you shall have it, but first...where did you meet that Bagon?" he had his hands in the symbolic finger threaded pose.

"On a completely unrelated note Serena, I think I was a bit taller than you when I was a Luxio. Our evolutionary forms are very close in size. When you are Salamence, you'll finally stop having to look up at me." Heji said, now, standing in a battle ready pose.

"Excuse me? This is the first time I've seen her. In fact... this is the first time I've seen a Bagon with headplates like that, come to think of it." Kyn wasn't lying about the first time he'd ever seen a Bagon with headplates like hers because it was the truth. However, both unfortunately for him, and fortunately for him, he was good at lying when he need to be, a skill he developing when dealing with politicians and getting out of sticky situations. Though he didn't have to work as hard to convince some wild Pokémon that he met in these regards.

Serena flashed him a smile, then turned, breaking her battle form to pick the lock on the door with her claw, and then she was through, leaving the three able Pokémon to hold the door, and clicked it closed after she entered. The sight of the Pokémon in question walking in soon after being mentioned was a shock, and it caused Royce to stand up. "YOU! There's no way you could have taken them out that fast." His voice was a hiss.

"Awww, boss man Royce isn't happy to see me~ pity...No, I left your goons in capable claws, pity, since it's the only place that I get any challenge anymore, but necessary." Her claws were muffled against the carpet, but she treated the two with a wide berth. She didn't know them, they were a threat..."What are these two doing here, you going to give them an opportunity to play a game with you? Anana, by the way." She used the safe word, and it was plain to see that the Slowking was simmering with rage.

"You're lucky." His voice was the dangerous calm that made him so well known. "That you know to use that Lizard's name to save your own hide...Yes, they're here to play a game...I do hope you like Roulette? It's a fair and square game...but the stakes...to double it, or lose it all."

"Double or nothing eh? I've never played a game like that before in my life, and I don't think I want to now, especially not after winning so much. If this is the prize, then I do not want it." Kyn said firmly. He wondered just what exactly this would do, considering that he now no longer had any outside security. "Also, who IS this Bagon? She seems to know YOU, but doesn't know ME."

Serena looked at the Sceptile that was Kyn skeptically. "Eh? That's not in the spirit of the casino at all~" she wasn't exactly allowing herself the childlike tone, but Royce didn't seem to be paying much attention to her at the moment.

"She is, to put it lightly, a pain in my side. As you wish, I can not force you to play, after all...and since you don't know her, or at least, you CLAIM not to know her, the winnings are yours to keep. However...I will tell you...That machine is, apparently, still broken and will be taken off the floor again."

<Translation: You weren't supposed to win. Ha.>

"You However, Serena Bagon...You KNOW you're not allowed near the machines, you're too young, I have told you before if you wish to train with the fighting types that their barracks are out back."

"But they can't even stand up against me one on one, and they wont come at me in twos and threes." She whined.

"Hm, do you have any idea as to when it would possibly be repaired? I doubt I'll win like this again of course, but as she said, the spirit of the casino and all." Kyn asked. He was also interested in the fact that Serena apparently had at one point or another, encountered the fighting types before. He knew though, that she was incredibly strong, as the readout told him.

"So what's up boss, can I go or what?" She looked a little anxious to get out of there, perhaps a little too much so. "Anana wants me to go to dinner with her, have her two favorite Bagon beside her." mentally she rolled her eyes, but the response was the one she wanted.

"You...all of you, may go, since you don't want to play my game....as for the machine...perhaps a couple of hours, our technicians are the best, you see." He motioned the door that she had just come from.

<Annnnd that's your lecherous Slowking, won't play his game, you're dismissed to the help...of course Heji and Striker have likely already taken them all out...but you're now on his watch list.> as she spoke she grabbed the door handle, and pulled it open towards her. <Had we had more time, I would have suggested a different game than Roulette, but they would kill me if I left you in here virtually alone with the Slowking.>

/Back in your balls for a bit guys, coming out./ She had of course, borrowed his connectivity, as she mentioned she would prior to, and waited to see that they were all clear before stepping out into the hall again.

{Marlow, you have a show to do, Hugh will not be happy if you are late.} she reminded him.

Heji pushed Striker's Ball first, and then his own. They disappeared inside, and waited for the rest of the group to return.

Kyn returned with Serena, and still having a most full bag of Poké, which he was happy about.

{We both have places to be Serena, don't we, eh non?}

"I am totally not used to things being at or above my height, Tensa." Kyn said, in obvious reference to Royce.

{Unfortunately. Good luck Marlow.} She did snatch the two balls from view, to ensure that Royce wasn't following them out, before she gave them back to Kyn, Heji's a bit hesitantly, torn between wanting to take him with her, and not wanting him to see her in that light.

"Have fun out there." She had to go, she knew she had to go, and yet, with what the situation was, she wasn't looking forward to it. She knew that Anana was going to be ecstatic that she finally was no longer a virgin, and of course sympathetic that she had taken the equivalent of a baseball bat for her first time. While Kyn and the others went out, more than likely, the way they went in, Serena took a right.

<As soon as you're away from the door it's okay to let them back out.> She made the mental note to Kyn. <And apologize to them for having them go back without context, I didn't know if Royce was going to follow us out, and so I had to take precautions to assume the worst would happen>

<I will do so. So then... When will I see you again? I hope my first order isn't a large one. I mean there can only be so many different types of meat that one of them needs. Even for a sushi-bar they don't need a lot. After I see the first request, I'll decide how much time I need to take on the other side.> He took the balls and put them back on his belt, waiting for the right time to let them out. Afterward, he went back up to his room, to see just how much he had actually acquired.

<Late...> She said, and stepped out through the side door, into the cooler night air. <I do hope that you wont be too tired...> she added as an afterthought, but she would be too far away by then for her to receive a proper response again.